Iraqis living around nuclear site fear radiation contamination

AL-TUWAYTHA, Iraq (AFP) - Hundreds of Iraqis living near the country's largest nuclear plant fear for their lives as dozens of radioactive barrels from the site looted at the end of the war a year ago remain there.

Residents of Al-Tuwaytha compound, south of Baghdad, are reporting strange ailments and doctors say the number of children suffering from blood-related diseases is on the rise.

"There are people who are losing their hair, others find spots on their skin and the colour of the face is changing," said Mohammad Abbas, a tailor.

"One of my clients knows an entire family who gets sick at nightfall. They only get better when the sun rises," he added.

Fuad Obeid, 27, has no doubts that these people "came into contact with radioactive barrels" from Al-Tuwaytha.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040331/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_nuclear&cid=1514&ncid=1480

Why would they only get sick at nightfall?